Jenny Mei Is Sad

A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book
A Book Riot Best Book

With this educational and entertaining picture book, learn how to approach difficult emotions with compassion and understanding—and be the best friend you can be.

PreS-Gr 2—Sometimes sadness is disguised with smiling, joking, and laughing. Sometimes sadness is not as easy to tuck away. The unnamed narrator is a young Black girl whose friend, Jenny Mei, a girl of the same age with short black hair and tan skin, carries a quiet sorrow. When the narrator meets her for their walk to school, Jenny Mei is clearly upset. The friend looks back at the house, signaling to readers that something at home makes Jenny Mei sad. Most days at school, Jenny Mei is lively, friendly, and funny. Some days, Jenny Mei does not feel like laughing and smiling. Subisak clearly delineates the ups and downs Jenny Mei experiences, and the support of both the narrator and the girls' teacher, who is a good listener. The reason for Jenny Mei's sadness is never explained, nor do readers get a tidy resolution. The simple text delivers the powerful message that sadness is normal and that friends can offer tremendous help in seemingly small ways. The ink-and-watercolor illustrations express the fluidity of the story's emotional arc. VERDICT A powerful story recommended to libraries for strengthening SEL skills in children.—Emily Brush, Novi P.L., MI

"Intelligently and sympathetically demonstrates that children have complex emotional lives too."―Kirkus

"A sensitive, gracefully wrought portrait of compassion."―Publishers Weekly

“A child’s consciousness of impending loss hums beneath the surface of Tracy Subisak’s gentle picture book “Jenny Mei Is Sad.”…In the colorful illustrations, we see Jenny Mei in school, smiling and playing the clown and then suddenly, inexplicably, tearing up a classmate’s drawing. Those who are sad, Ms. Subisak shows with kindness, don’t always behave as we imagine they should. Sad people may lash out in their misery and, indeed, feel swept away by loneliness and sorrow.―The Wall Street Journal

"Subisak’s illustrations, rendered in India ink, Japanese watercolor, pastel, and colored pencil, are bold in color yet delicate in detail. The text is simple yet thoughtful, painting our narrator as the empathetic friend she is."―Horn Book

"Subisak sweetly shows, in word and art, how friends are supposed to stick together, even during the not-so-fun times."―Booklist

"A complex book with a beautiful, timely message.”―Book Riot

There was a time when Tracy Subisak was very, very sad. Tracy's friends helped her through this time by going on walks with her, eating favorite foods together, and giving her big hugs often. She is the illustrator of several picture books, including the award-winning Shawn Loves Sharks by Curtis Manley and the nonfiction picture book Wood, Wire, Wings: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane by Kirsten Larson. Tracy is from Ohio and now lives in the Pacific Northwest. To learn more about Tracy, you can visit her website, tracysubisak.com and her Instagram, @tracysubisak.